Window operator



Deg. 31, 1957 I E. LE NZ E r A|.

WINDOW OPERATOR Filed May 6, 1954 3 heets-Sheet 1 z .1

INVENTORS EMORVWZENZ and M4 LIAM CI R/Es TER A TTORNE Y'S.

Dec. 31 1957 E. w. LENZ ETAL 2,818,251

WINDOW OPERATOR INVENTORS EMORYMA E/VZ and MLL/AM C. R/EsrER 504' @aa, M,M7@aa,

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 31,- 1957 I E. W. LENZ Er'AL 2,818,251

WINDOW OPERATOR mummy-e, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet s fig 6' HHHH WINDOW OPERATOR Emory W.'-Lenz, Butfalo, and William C. Riester, Eggertsville, N. Y., assignorsto Trico Products Corporation, rButfalo, N. Y.

Application May 6, 1954, Serial No..427,98.8

12 Claims. (Cl. 268125) This invention relates generally to. a window operator unit, and more specifically toan operator unitparticularly adapted for the regulation of vehicle windows.

Copending application Serial No. 315,396, filed October 17, 1952, discloses a window operator unit'which is extremely simple and highly practical in construction, and which is completely reliable-in operation, whereby the same represents a significant contribution to this art.

The aforesaid window operator unit utilizes a stanchion forming a guide for the window actuating member and comprisingan upright support mounted adjacentits lower end on a suitable bracket plate for rocking about an axis enabling lateral yielding of the stanchion about its rocking axis in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the window, whereby to enable positionaladjustment of the unit during installation to avoid binding when raising and lowering the window. The stanchion is directly supported only adjacent its lower end, and upon closing the vehicle door, particularly if the same .is slammed, the upper end of the stanchion is subject to vibration in the direction of the thickness of the door panel and transverse to the window glass, wherebyif the window should be in lowered position it is subject to being hit and possibly damaged by reason of'this vibrating of the upper end of the stanchion.

-Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a window operator of the aforesaid type wherein damage to the glass and annoying rattle are precludedby an arrangement including means supporting the upper end of the stanchion against such transverse movementwhile enabling the fore and aftor lateral-positional adjustment thereof.

In addition, the arrangement of said copending application utilizes a counterbalance .spring for ofisetting the effect of the weight of the window glass. While this arrangement is entirely satisfactory in many instances, it is necessary for the motor or powerunit to overcome the torque of the counterbalance spring when .moving the window and in some instances it is desirable 'to avoid this drain on the power output of the motor unit.

To this end, it is another object of this invention to provide means for supporting the window, particularly during downward movement thereof, whereby to avoid chatter and to cause thewindow to be lowered by the POWQr unit, substantially without affecting or placing a drain on the power output of the motor unit.

A window operator unit according to this invention is characterized in one aspect thereof by means forming an extension of the upper stanchion end, and cushioning means carried by the door body and in a preferred embodiment comprising part of the water deflectorassembly receiving such stanchion extension and confining the same against movement toward the window glass while enabling limited positional adjustment thereof about its rocking axis.

A window operator according to this invention is characterized in another aspect thereof by-the provision ice of a dampener-acting on-the downstroke of the window unit to retard the gravityinduced movement'thereof.

The foregoing and other :objects and advantages not a window operator unit according to this inventio'n will :become clearly apparent from-the-ensuing .detailed'description, taken together with the accompanying drawings -wherein like reference numerals denote like .parts throughout the various views'and wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view .depicting a .window .operator unit according to this invention'installed on a vehicle;

Fig 2 is a transverse sectional view of the window operator unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentarydetail-view taken about on line IlIlII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is afrontplan view taken-abouton-line IV--IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken abouton line VV of Fig. 2; and

.Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a motion. dampening unit forming part of the window operator unit.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, numeral 1 denotes the right hand door of .a motor vehicle, which door has vertical guides 2 of channel form slidably receiving the glass window panel 3 for openingand closing adjustment thereof. Panel 3 is received and gripped by a bracket 4 of channel form having depending feet 4' which are slotted in a vertical direction, as at 5, to receive fastening members .6 .foradjustably connecting bracket .4 to the cross arm .7 of a vertical carrieror guide 8. Cross arm 7 is joinedto carrier 8 bya bracket 7, and is provided with slots 9 extending at substantially right angles to slots 5, and the fasteners 6 are disposed therein for greater flexibility in the adjustable connection. The transmission unit constitutes a flexible support for the window panel 3, and is supported and guided in its verticalpanel adjusting movement by a stanchion 14) of substantially Cshape .in cross section. The stanchion is rockably mounted adjacent its lowerend, as by a pin or bolt 11, upon a sill bracket plate 12 secured within the window well of the door, and preferably on the lower inside wall '13 thereof. It will be noted that the rocking axis defined bypin 11 extends at substantially a right angle to the plane of panel 3, and by reason of the stanchion being able to yield laterally about such rocking axis there is provided a sturdy support that will enable the window panel to follow the guiding channels 2 and will adjust to accommodate any irregularity in assembling or installing the unit. The adjustment provided in the connection of fasteners 6 enables, in combination with pin -11, proper positional adjustment when the unit is installed in the vehicle.

The carrier 8 is slidably mounted on stanchion '10 as by a-pair of vertically spaced studs 14 having rollers 15 retained in place by overhanging flanges 10, and is raised and lowered by a power driven actuator member 16 which is mounted to have a path of'movemcnt substantially parallel to that of the carrier 8. 'It is contemplated that the power may be-either electric or hydraulic, and inthe preferred embodiment illustrated herein a pneumatic motor operable from a suitable source of suction such as the intake manifold 18 of the vehicle engine, with or without an auxiliary source of suction in the form of a rotary pump 19, is utilized. It 'will be appreciated that pump 19 can be driven by a small electric motor20 connected in circuit with a source of electric energy 21 through a suction responsive switch 22, as disclosed for example in Patent No.'2,-S20,6-50, in order to assure a sufiicient degree of vacuum.

The window operator motor comprises twin cylinders 23 each containing a'piston 2'4 and coupled together by having their piston rods 25 connected to the opposite ends of the actuator member 16. One of said cylinders preferably incorporates a self-locking piston serving to lock the window against being opened unauthorizedly, as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,515,712. The two cylinders are mounted on a clevis bracket 26 which is clamped to bracket 12 beneath the stanchion by bolt 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the two cylinders 23 are joined at their upper ends by a tie plate 27 which embraces stanchion 10 for reinforcement, whereupon the power unit comprising the motor will follow any positional adjustment of the stanchion.

A motion multiplying transmission and movement extending unit is interposed between actuator 16 and carrier 8 and in the preferred embodiment comprises two flexible linear pull elements herein shown as a carrier lifting cable 23 and a carrier lowering cable '29.

The upper and lower ends of carrier 8 are turned outwardly to form anchor flanges or lugs 3 each having an eye for receiving anchoring tabs 3% on one end of each cable, whereby the carrier lifting and lowering cables 2S and 2 are each anchored to the respective end of the carrier, and the opposite ends of the two cables are anchored at 31 to the adjacent ends of the stanchion through fixedly related parts such as the cap 32 secured to the top of stanchion Ill and the clevis bracket plate 26.

Intermediate their anchored ends cables 28 and 29 take about a pulling part on the actuator 16, such as the pulley 33, from opposite directions to thereby comprise in effect active loops each feeding in a respective peripheral groove 34 of the pulley. Separate pulleys may be provided for the two cable pull loops, or one pulley with two peripheral grooves can be utilized as illustrated. With this arrangement, when actuator 16 is lifted by pistons 24, pulley 33 will lift on cable 28 and rotate clockwise to pay out said table toward its fixed end 31 and to take in said cable from its carrier connected end 30, thereby lifting the carrier 8 to the closed window position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 4. During this lifting action the companion cable 29 will idle. However, upon a reverse movement of the actuator to lower the window it will exert a downward pull upon the cable 2.9, paying out that cable toward its fixed end 31 and taking in the same from its carrier connected end 30 whereby to lower the window to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4, and cable 28 will idle during this movement.

Because of the motion advantage obtained through this pulley and cable arrangement the lift imparted to the carrier will be twice as great as the movement of the actuator, giving a rapid window movement, and in order to preserve the cable loop formation the path of movement of the actuator overlaps that of the carrier although it is considerably shorter extent. Also, in order to maintain the cable taut, a coil spring 35 is inserted in cable 29 in its anchorage to the cap 32, together with a stretch arresting link 36 limiting the extent of yield of the spring, whereupon unnecessary slack in both cables is absorbed by the spring.

Control means are provided for operating the window, which means can comprise a valve 37 by which an operating pressure differential will act on the pistons 24 concurrently. Suction conduits 38 communicate at one end with valve 37 and at their opposite ends with the cylinders 23, said opposite ends being directed to opposite sides of the piston 24 therein, and each conduit 38 has branches 39 leading off to the corresponding ends of the two cylinders. To open or close the window, it is only necessary to move control valve 37 in one direction or the other. The valve arrangement is such that the opposite ends of the motor chambers 23 are normally in open communication with the source of suction so that when the valve is actuated it will open one end of both motor chambers to the outside atmospheric pressure, in order to provide a quick response. The pressure differential thus selectively created will energize the motors to move their pistons .4 and the connected actuator 16 for exerting a pull on the corresponding cable loop to actuate the carrier 8.

The unit as thus described, and a described more fully in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 315,396, provides a highly compact and reliable vehicle window operator readily adjustable in its installation to avoid binding, and represents a significant contribution to this art.

As previously noted, stanchion it) is fastened at its bottom end by the pin 11, and while this arrangement enables lateral displacement of stanchion 19 for adjustment thereof during installation of the unit it also leaves the upper end of the stanchion free to vibrate in a direction substantially normal to the window panel 3. In certain installations, as when the door width requires that the stanchion Flt be positioned close to the panel 3 or where stanchion 10 is subject to greater freedom of movement in a dlIBCf tion normal to the window panel, there is a possibility of the stanchion 10 hitting against panel 3, when the same is in lowered position, as by slamming the door in which the window operator unit is mounted. Such movement of stanchion 10 against panel 3 subjects the latter to being cracked or shattered, and a primary object of this invention is to preclude this undesirable possibility while retaining the feature of adjustability found in the arrangement described above.

To this end a member 50, preferably comprising part of the water reflector assembly of the door, is fastened to the upper edge of the outer door wall 13 and extends downwardly therefrom into the door adjacent the path of window panel 3. Member 50 is provided with an inturned flange portion 51 directed toward the outer door wall and lying in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the window panel 3, and this flange portion 51 is provided with a slot 52 of oval form elongated in a direction fore and aft of the vehicle and parallel to the plane of window panel 3 and therefore being the direction of adjustment of stanchion it} about pin 11. A rubber grommet 53, which may be of circular form, is fitted into the slot 52, the grommet 53 having a peripheral groove therearound for receiving the flange 51, and by selecting a grommet having an outside diameter exceeding the width of slot 52 the grommet will be deformed into an oval shape corresponding to the shape of slot 52.

An upstanding pin 54 is fixed to the top portion of cap 32, whereby to comprise in effect an extension of stanchion 1t and pin 54 is fitted through grommet 53, being snugly received therein. With this arrangement, which is readily fabricated and highly practical 'by reason of its extreme simplicity, pin 54 and consequently stanchion 10 are positively precluded against movement toward window panel 3, as might occur when slamming the vehicle door, whereby there is no danger of these parts accidentally cracking the window panel. At the same time, because of the elongate oval shape of slot 52 and grommet 53 in the direction of adjustment of stanchion 10, it will be appreciated that pin 54 is movable about pin 11 between predetermined limits as defined by grommet 53 whereby to enable the positional adjustment of stanchion it? during installation of the unit in order to provide a non-binding action. In addition, grommet 53 acts as a cushion to prevent rattling in the unit.

Also, whereas the arrangement disclosed in the aforesaid copending application Ser. No. 315,36 utilizes a counterbalance spring for offsetting the weight or the effect of the weight of the window panel upon the motor, it is felt that because the motor must overcome the torque of the counter balance spring such an arrangement is not always desirable. However, it is desired to have some means to make certain that the motor leads or pulls the window on downward movement thereof, whereby to avoid chatter, and accordingly such means are provided according to this invention in the form of dampening means operable on the window lowering stroke to retard gravity induced motion of the window panel and cause the motor to pull the window down, such dampening means possessing the advantage that it does not reduce the power of the motor unit.

A suitable arrangement according to this invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 as comprising a cylinder 60 having a piston 61 therein and a piston rod 62 which is secured to ,a bracket ,63 fixed to the actuator 16. Bracket 63 can have an open ended slot 64 for readily receiving piston rod 62 therein, and rod 62 is preferably positioned therein ,by means of bolts 65 and lock washers on opposite sides of bracket 63 whereby to enable adjustment of rod 62 relative to bracket 63 for conforming the motion of piston 61 to .the motion of the motor unit. At its upper end, cylinder 60 is provided with a sealing joint comprising suitable packing 66 and wall members 67 and 67' for securing the same in place, the cylinder being rolled over wall 67 to secure the same in place and being enlarged at its outer end to provide a shoulder for receiving wall 67'. At its lower end, cylinder 60 is enlarged to provide a shoulder and is rolled over an end cap 68 to provide a sealed joint, the parts being soldered together, and cap 68 carries a bolt 69 which is fixed to thebracket 26. In this way, the dampener unit is movable =with the motor unit and stanchion during positional adjustment thereof about pin 11.

The arrangement is such that the dampener is without effect on the window panel lifting stroke, and is operable only on the lowering stroke. To this end, piston 61 has relatively large openings 71 .therethrough and a flexible washer 72, having small bleed openings 73 therethrough, is mounted on an extension of rod 62 through piston 61 to have limited play relative to the lower end of piston 61. It will be noted that washer 72 is of smaller diameter than the piston chamber.

In operation, cylinder 60 is filled with oil or other suitable fluid medium, and as actuator 16 is raised by the motor unit to lift the window panel 3 washer 72 will be displaced away from the end of piston 61 as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6 enabling the free flow of fluid through the openings 71 in the piston whereby the dampener is essentially without eifect on the lifting motion imparted to window panel 3. However, on a lowering or downstroke of the window panel 3 the dampener dampens this movement and supports the weight of the window because washer 72 will be forced against the end of piston 61 whereby fluid flow through the piston is limited .by the minute bleed passages 72 through the washer, whereby the motor will pull the window panel down. This action is illustrated in broken lines in Fig, 6, and it will be noted that this motion dampening effectively avoids any chatter by reason of the window panel tending to lead the unit.

Accordingly, it will be seen that this invention fully accomplishes :the aforesaid objects. While only one embodiment has been inllustrated in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention -is not necessarily limited to such details but encompasses Various modifications, and it is intended that this invention be defined by the scope of the appended claims.

,I-Iavingfully disclosed and completely described this invention, together with its mode of operation, what is claimed as-new is:

l. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having-a window panel movable therein to open and close a window opening therethrough, a driven member engaging said window panel for so moving the same, an elongated support member extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said window panel and guiding said driven member for so moving said window panel, means mounting theend of said support member remote fromsaid window panel on said body part for .6 position adjusting rocking movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said window panel, means carried by said body part resiliently constraining the end of said support means adjacent said panel against movement in a direction transverse to the plane of said rocking movement while enabling saidrocking movement for position adjusting purposes, a powered actuator'for said driven member, and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said driven member.

2. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having a window panel movable therein to open and close a window opening therethrough, a driven member engaging said window panel for so moving the same, a support member extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said window panel and guiding said driven member for so moving said window panel, means mounting the end of said support member remote from said window panel on said body part for position adjusting rocking movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said window panel, means carried by said body part restraining the end of said support means adjacent said panel against movement in a direction transverse to the plane of said rocking movement while enabling said rocking movement for position adjusting purposes, a powered actuator for said driven member, and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said driven member, said actuator being mounted on said body part for rocking movement with said support member.

3. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having a window opening therethrough and a window panel movable therein for opening and closing said opening, a carrier member, means adjustably connecting said window panel to said carrier member for opening and closing movement thereby, a substantially upright support member guiding said carrier member for movement of said window panel, a powered actuator, power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier member for driving the latter from the former to selectively move said window panel, means carried by said body part pivotally mounting said support member adjacent the lower end thereof for position adjusting movement about an axis substantially normal to the plane of said window panel, and means carried'by said body part engaging the upper end of said support member for precluding movement of said support member against said window panel while enabling limited movement of said support member about said axis.

4. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having a window opening therethrough and a window panel movable therein for opening and closing said opening, a carrier member, means adjustably connecting said window panel to said carrier member for opening and closing movement thereby, a sUPPQrt member guiding said carrier member for movement of said window panel, a powered actuator, power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier member for driving the latter from the former to selectively move said window panel, means carried by said bodypart pivotally mounting said support member adjacent the end thereof remote from said window panel for position adjusting movement about an axis substantially normal to the plane of said window panel, and means for restraining the end of said support member adjacent said window panel against movement into contact with said window panel while enabling limited movement of said support member about said axis, said actuator being mounted for movement with said support.

5. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination .with a vehicle body part having a window opening therethrough and a window panel movable therein for opening and closing said opening, a carrier member, means adjustably connecting said window panel to said carrier member for opening and closing movement thereby, a support member guiding said carrier member for movement otsaid window panel, a powered actuator, power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier member for driving the latter from the fotmcr' to selectively move said window panel, means carried by said body pait pivotally mounting said support member adjacent the end thereof remote from said window panel for position adjusting movement about an axis substantially normal to the plane of said window panel, and means for restraining the end of said support inei'n'ber' adjacent said window panel against movement nto Contact with said window panel while enabling limited movement of said support member about said axis, together with motion dampening means connected to said actuator and operable to overcome free move ment of said window panel upon lowering thereof, said dampening means and said powered actuator being mounted for position adjusting movement with said support member.

6. A vehicle window regulator comprising, in combination with a vehicle door having a window opening therethrough and a window panel movable along guide channels in the side walls of said opening and into the door part therebeneath, an elongated substantially upright support member pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end in the bottom of said door part for position adjusting rocking movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said window panel, bracket means carried by said door part adjacent the bottom of said window opening and having a slot therein elongated lengthwise of said door, means carried by said support member extending into said slot for limiting such position adjusting movement of said support member and for preventing movement thereof against said window panel, a carrier engaging said window panel for movement thereof and guided by said support member, a powered actuator, and power transmission means operatively interconnecting said actuator and said carrier for driving the latter from the former to selectively move said window panel.

7. A vehicle window regulator comprising, in combi nation with a vehicle body part having a movable window member, a carrier engaging said window member for moving the same, an elongated substantially upright support member guiding said carrier for window member adjusting movement, said window member being movable downwardly below the upper end of said support member, means carried by said body part and pivotally mounting the lower end of said support member for position adjusting movement of said support member in a plane substantially parallel to said window member, a slot-defining part carried by one of said body part and the upper end of said support member and a pin on the other of said body part and said upper support member end received in said slot-defining part for limiting the position adjusting movement of said support member and for precluding movement of said support member against said window member, a power unit, an actuator mounted for movement by said power unit in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier, and power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier for driving the latter from the former.

8. A vehicle window regulator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having a movable window member, a carrier engaging said window member for moving the same, a substantially upright support member guiding said carrier for window member adjusting movement, said window member being movable downwardly below the upper end of said support member, means carried by said body part and pivotally mounting the lower end of said support member for position adjusting movement of said support member in a plane substantially parallel to said window member, a slot-defining part comprising a bracket carried by said body part and having amass 1 a slot therein lined with cushioning material, a pin pro-- jecting upwardly from said support member into said slot for limiting the position adjusting movement of said support member and for precluding movement of said support member against said window member, a power unit, an actuator mounted for movement by said power unit in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier, and power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier for driving the latter from the former.

9. A vehicle window regulator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body part having a movable window member, a carrier engaging said window member for moving the same, said carrier comprising a bracket secured to said window member and having spaced depending ears each provided with a slot therein, an elongated substantially upright support member, a carrier member guided by said member for window member adjusting movement and having a cross arm provided with slots therein aligned with the slots in said ears and extending substantially at right angles thereto, fasteners extending through said aligned slots for securing said cross arm to said ears, said window member being movable downwardly below the upper end of said support member, means carried by said body part and pivotally mounting the lower end of said support member for position adjusting movement of said support member in a plane substantially parallel to said window member, a slot-defining part carried by one of said body part and the upper end of said support member and a pin on the other of said body part and said upper support member end received in said slot-defining part for limiting the position adjusting movement of said support member and for precluding movement of said support member against said window member, a power unit, an actuator mounted for movement by said power unit in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said carrier, and power transmission means interconnecting said actuator and said carrier member for driving the latter from the former.

10. A vehicle window operator for a vehicle body section having a window panel movable therein between open and closed positions comprising, a carrier for the window panel, support means guiding said carrier for movement in a direction corresponding to opening and closing movements of the window panel, an actuator, motor means for driving said actuator, transmission means connecting said carrier to said actuator for being driven thereby to open and close the window panel, said carrier together with said transmission means and said actuator comprising a drive means, and motion dampening means connected to said drive means for overcoming gravity induced movement of the Window panel, said dampening means comprising a cylinder having fluid therein, a piston rod connected to said drive means, a piston carried by said rod for movement within said cylinder, and fluid passage means through said piston.

11. A vehicle window operator for a vehicle body section having a window panel movable therein between open and closed positions comprising, a carrier for the window panel, support means guiding said carrier for movement in a direction corresponding to opening and closing movements of the window panel, an actuator, motor means for driving said actuator, transmission means connecting said carrier to said actuator for being driven thereby to open and close the window panel, said carrier together with said transmission means and said actuator comprising a drive means, and motion dampening means connected to said drive means for overcoming gravity induced movement thereof, said dampening means comprising a cylinder having fluid therein, a piston rod connected to said drive means, a piston carried by said rod for movement within said cylinder, and fluid passage means through said piston, wherein said fluid passage means permit substantially free fluid flow through said piston, together with valve means having restricted bleed passage means therethrough and operable on movement of said piston in one direction to restrict the flow through said fluid passage means.

12. A vehicle window operator comprising, in combination with a vehicle body section having a window panel movable therein between open and closed positions, a carrier for said window panel, support means guiding said carrier for movement in a direction corresponding to opening and closing movements of said window panel, an actuator, motor means for driving said actuator, transmission means connecting said carrier to said actuator for being driven thereby to open and close said window panel, said carrier together with said transmission means and said actuator comprising a drive means, and motion dampening means connected to said drive means for overcoming gravity induced movement thereof, said dampening means comprising a cylinder having fluid therein carried by said body section, a piston rod connected to said drive means, a piston carried by said rod for movement within said cylinder, and fluid passage means through said piston, together with mounting means carried by said body section and supporting said support means adjacent the end thereof remote from said window panel for position adjusting lateral rocking movement of said support means, and means supporting said motor and said cylinder for rocking movement with said support means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,035 Kurscheidt et a1 Sept. 13, 1927 2,337,867 Brotman et a1 Dec. 28, 1943 2,560,179 Lermont et a1 July 10, 1951 2,602,664 Matchett July 8, 1952 

